I think the following sentence represents the core of Oswald Chambers’ thought. I wrote it down in my journal and wrote in the column next to it: “This is central to what I believe to be true!” So, here it is: “Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know him.” Coming to understand this is key in spiritual transformation and maturity. Connected to this are my thoughts... Read more

I’m posting a question about Harpur’s book, The Pagan Christ. Here’s a quote: “According to the historian Herodotus, the ‘father of history,’ the Egyptian Jesus, known as Iu-em-hetep, or Iusu, was one of the eight great gods who were described in the papyri almost twenty thousand years ago” (p. 39). In my research I finally found the quote in Herodutus that I think he’s appealing to: “In fact however Heracles is a very ancient Egyptian god; and (as they say... Read more

As I usually do, early this morning, I’m drinking my coffee (Just Us Italian Roast, freshly ground and brewed), overlooking the Kennebacasis River (this pic took this morning!), and reading Oswald Chambers’ daily devotional, My Utmost For His Highest, meditating on today’s punchy statement, “The Spirit of God unearths the spirit of self-vindication.” With my eyes I notice the deer in my back yard eating the raspberries (this pic also took this morning!). Beautiful benediction! In my heart and mind... Read more

One of the things we are taught in school, secular or religious, is that we should, in any discussion, cool or heated, not make sweeping, sensationalist, or conspiracy-theory statements. It seems that Harpur, my post, and consequent comments, have been guilty of this. I was telling my wife Lisa this morning over coffee (ah, life seemed so simple then!), that I decided after the first page of Harpur’s book, that I would journal every sweeping, sensational, and conspiracy theory statement... Read more

In Tom Harpur’s book, The Pagan Christ. Recovering the Lost Light, he claims: “As we shall see, the ‘Pagans’, who were persecuted, decried, killed, and ultimately utterly vanquished by the Church, held views of ‘the Christ within’ that the Church was to plagiarize blatantly—and then cover up with book burning, anathemas, and murder.” Because the root meaning of “pagan” is “peasant”, I can agree with Harpur that the institutional Church has frequently and consistently been guilty of alienating outsiders, fringe... Read more

I’m up very early Sunday mornings to fine-tune my messages. Here’s what I’m teaching today (anyone can use this if you want). It’s taken from PSALM 16:11 (click on it!). 1. God makes known the path of life: This is not about making known how I should behave. It’s not like God gives me a detailed blueprint of how I have to live. He shows me a path, and I am free to walk it. Interestingly, to enter the path... Read more

Thinking about freedom, I read Oswald Chambers, again in MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST:: “Our Lord never insists on having authority; he never says, Thou shalt! He leaves us perfectly free—so free that we can spit in his face, as men did; so free that we can put him to death, as men did; and he will never say a word.” I am convinced that we need to provide this same kind of freedom to people, including church people. It... Read more